BJP-JD(S) alliance sweeps all four Karnataka MLC seats, Congress draws blank

Bengaluru, Oct 28 : The BJP-JD(S) alliance has registered a clean sweep in the four Karnataka Legislative Council elections, winning all the seats contested by teachers and graduates, dealing a setback to the ruling Congress.

The JD(S) wrested the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency from the Congress, while the BJP retained the North-East Teachers', West Graduates' and South-East Graduates' seats. All four results were declared following counting that began on Tuesday.

In the closely watched Bengaluru Teachers' constituency, JD(S) candidate A P Ranganath defeated sitting Congress MLC Puttanna by 908 votes. Ranganath secured 10,810 votes against Puttanna's 9,902, reversing the outcome of the 2024 by-election.

In the North-East Teachers' constituency, BJP's Shashil G Namoshi retained the seat by defeating Congress candidate Sharanappa Mattur by 3,297 votes. Namoshi secured 15,596 votes, marking his fifth victory.

The BJP also retained the West Graduates' seat, with S V Sankanur defeating Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai by 9,323 votes. Sankanur polled 33,711 votes against Limbikai's 24,388.

In the South-East Graduates' constituency, BJP candidate K M Suresh defeated Congress nominee Shashi Hulikunte Mutt by a margin of 23,098 votes.

A total of 43 candidates contested the four seats, which went to polls on October 23. The Congress, despite an extensive campaign led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and other senior leaders, failed to win any seat.

Reacting to the victory, JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy questioned the Congress over its defeat in the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency, pointing out that the election was conducted through ballot papers. Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy described the alliance's victory as significant and linked it to the 2028 Assembly elections.

The results have strengthened the BJP-JD(S) alliance politically, although they are not expected to affect the stability of the state government or significantly alter the balance of power in the 75-member Legislative Council.

The outcome is being viewed as a setback for the Congress and a boost to the opposition alliance's efforts to consolidate its electoral support in Karnataka.